Youth Dance project ‘Silt’ was created by Claire Marshall in 2018 for four dance students who were 17, 18, 19, and 20 years of age at the time of filming. The four enthusiastic dancers worked with Claire in her Test Pressing Project Group which was created to extend dance experiences for enthusiastic students, and provide experience outside the traditional realm of dance. The group comprised of two students were first year QUT dance performance students, one student who had recently graduated QUT, and one who had just finished high school. These four women worked with Claire in 2017 and in 2018 were keen for to work on a dance film project with Claire.
The abstract piece is created around four characters who find escape in a quaint little beach in the middle of the Brisbane CBD. The cut-a-way moments create the narrative and the dance phrases existed as moments of connection in the performance.
The Captain Bourke park (beach) situated on the edge of the Brisbane river sees many people pass by, as well as vehicles zoom over the large structure of a bridge above. However, for the characters, it’s a place they connect as people continue to pass by going about their busy lives. Juxtaposed to this sense of freedom and escape, their movement output is deliberate clunky and hard, resonating their surroundings.
Silt was created for four dance students who were 17, 18, 19, and 20 years of age at the time of filming in late 2018.
The four enthusiastic dancers worked with Claire in the Test Pressing Project Group which was created to extend dance experiences for older students who were seeking experiences beyond eisteddfods and dance school recitals.
Yes, they got their feet wet. There was a section of choreography where the dancers were required to roll forward. However translating that to the location, meant rolling uphill. The dancers all shot each other a knowing glance before Claire said, “Ok, we are going to roll the other way: down the slope”. When they got to the edge of the water, Claire said “Keep going”. Keep going. Keep going”. They did.
Every dancefilm seems to have something rugged to contend with. For Silt it was dancing on sand, dancing in mud, and rolling into the Brisbane River.
Choreographed by Claire Marshall (2018)
Cast: Maddison Campbell, Kirrah Jobst, Amelia Le-Bherz, Paige Rasmussen.
Cinematographer: Kevin Holloway
Stills from frame:
